THE SECOND BOOK 197 



proportion of an example ; led with a desire to give 

 authority to this part of knowledge, which I noted as 

 deficient, by so excellent a precedent ; and have also 

 attended them with brief observations, such as to my 

 understanding offer no violence to the sense, though 

 I know they may be applied to a more divine use : but 

 it is allowed, even in divinity, that some interpretations, 

 yea, and some writings, have more of the eagle than 

 others ; but taking them as instructions for life, they 

 mought have received large discourse, if I would have 

 broken them and illustrated them by deducements and 

 examples. 



8. Neither was this in use only with the Hebrews, 

 but it is generally to be found in the wisdom of the 

 more ancient times ; that as men found out any ob 

 servation that they thought was good for life, they 

 would gather it and express it in parable or aphorism 

 or fable. But for fables, they were vicegerents and 

 supplies where examples failed : now that the times 

 abound with history, the aim is better when the mark 

 is alive. And therefore the form of writing which of 

 all others is fittest for this variable argument of nego 

 tiation and occasions is that which Machiavel chose 

 wisely and aptly for government ; namely, discourse 

 upon histories or examples. For knowledge drawn 

 freshly and in our view out of particulars, knoweth the 

 way best to particulars again. And it hath much 

 greater life for practice when the discourse attendeth 

 upon the example, than when the example attendeth 

 upon the discourse. For this is no point of order, as it 

 seemeth at first, but of substance. For when the ex 

 ample is the ground, being set down in an history at 

 large, it is set down with all circumstances, which may 

 sometimes control the discourse thereupon made, and 

 sometimes supply it, as a very pattern for action ; 

 whereas the examples alleged for the discourse s sake 

 are cited succinctly, and without particularity, and carry 

 a servile aspect towards the discourse which they are 

 brought in to make good. 



9. But this difference is not amiss to be remembered. 



